In October 2025, Cadillac, Michigan, marks the 50th anniversary of one of the most legendary events in KISStory — the weekend KISS adopted a high school football team and turned a small town into the center of the rock ’n’ roll universe.
To honor the milestone, we’re sharing a photo walk down memory lane featuring both iconic Cadillac images you know and rarely seen shots that capture new angles of this unforgettable story.
In 1973, the Cadillac High School Vikings finished with a perfect 9–0 record. But in 1974, they opened the season with two losses. Assistant coach Jim Neff, a lifelong rock fan, decided to shake things up. He blasted KISS in the locker room, rallying the team with both the energy of the music and the mantra: Keep It Simple, Stupid (K-I-S-S).
The results were immediate. The Vikings won seven straight games, finished 7–2, and their stingy defense became known as the “KISS Defense”.
After the season, Neff found the band’s management address on the back of the KISS album and sent a letter describing the team’s turnaround. In 1975, after KISS played Detroit, he wrote again. To his surprise, management and Casablanca founder Neil Bogart responed and in October 9th of 1975, the unbelievable happened: KISS came to Cadillac High School and played a homecoming concert in the high school gym.
Principal Laurent asked Gene not to spit blood, and he honored the request, but promised a “hell of a concert.” The result was still deafening — according to rumours, the sound carried two miles from the gym.
The Arrival
The town went all in to prepare for the weekend. Principal John Laurent approved the visit, despite parental pushback. Teachers helped apply KISS makeup in the cafeteria. The mayor proclaimed “KISS Day.” Mitchell Street was temporarily renamed “KISS Boulevard.”